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Hunter Valley hospitality group HVL Hotels has unveiled its plans for Laval Hunter Valley, a $120 million luxury resort on the historic 68ha Lindeman Estate at Pokolbin that is expected to be open in the second half of next year.
The 65-villa development, which is backed by Mondari Capital Group, is being positioned as the first new-build luxury resort of its scale in the Hunter Valley in more than 20 years, targeting the region's high-end tourism segment with pavilion-style villas, a 1,000-square-metre two-level spa and a 10,000-bottle cellar.
The development, which will be immersed within a working vineyard, will be home to one of the world’s largest collections of Gillie & Marc sculptures and a culinary program that is "defined by regional provenance".
Featuring all the trappings of a luxury escape, including a private helicopter landing facility, Laval is described by HVL Hotels as a new chapter in the site’s 185-year winemaking legacy.
The resort will sit on the estate historically known as Ben Ean, one of the Hunter Valley's oldest vineyard properties, with HVL Hotels saying the greenfield nature of the project gives the group latitude to design the property from the ground up rather than retrofitting an existing asset.
“Laval is more than the answer to a longstanding gap in the Hunter Valley’s luxury accommodation segment," says Dominic Lambrinos, managing director of HVL Hotels.
"It represents an ambition to do something that hasn’t been done before, on the most magical piece of land within the valley.
"Building from the ground up, we have complete freedom to shape our vision for Laval without constraint.
"What we’re creating is a unique experience where intentional contrasts unfold at every turn, designed so our guests can experience the joy of feeling something new."
The property will feature 65 pavilion-style villas designed by EJE Architects, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and interior studio Some Studio.
Each villa will include private outdoor spaces integrated into a broader landscape masterplan by TCL Landscape Architects, led by Lisa Howard, encompassing 21,000 plants across 300 species as part of an ecological regeneration program for the estate.
Dining will be overseen by chef Justin North, whose culinary program will draw on Hunter Valley producers, while a wine program curated by Jon Osbeiston will anchor a cellar housing 10,000 bottles and a 1,000-strong wine list.
The resort's Veraia Spa, designed by Nikki Lambrinos, will span two levels with 15 treatment rooms.
An art program featuring 13 major sculptures by Sydney-based artists Gillie and Marc, along with more than 130 in-room pieces, will be embedded across the property.
The new-build project expected to generate about $49 million per annum in economic activity and create up to 479 jobs across construction and ongoing operations.
HVL Hotels says Laval is designed to elevate the Hunter Valley's standing as a luxury tourism destination on the global stage, competing with comparable wine-region resort offerings internationally.
The resort is scheduled to welcome its first guests in the second half of 2027.
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